Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 30, 2007
Metro to Offer Express Service for Nationals Home Opener
Special ?Fast Ball Express? Trains on the Blue, Orange Lines Free Shuttle Bus Service to Union Station After Eighth Inning
As the Washington Nationals prepare to play ball Monday afternoon at RFK Stadium, Metro is also preparing to handle the anticipated crowds with two special “fast ball express” trains operating to Stadium-Armory Metrorail station prior to the game and free shuttle bus service to Union Station after the eighth inning.
Monday, April 2 - Opening Day Service Plans:
Supplementing its normal weekday service, Metro will operate one Orange Line express train departing the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station at 12:14 p.m., and one Blue Line express train departing Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at 12:04 p.m. Each train will operate in express service to the Rosslyn Metrorail station, make local stops to Metro Center, operate express to L’Enfant Plaza, and operate express to its final destination, the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station. Passengers should listen carefully as the rail operator will make announcements advising fans they are on the special express train to Stadium-Armory. These express trains will be recognizable to Metrorail customers as the first two rail cars of the train will be wrapped in the red and white Nationals logo.
Leading up to the game, Metro will operate six-car trains on the Red, Blue and Orange lines, and each train will operate every six minutes in the downtown core, and every 12 minutes from the end of each rail line. Prior to the game, additional trains will be deployed if necessary on the Blue and Orange Lines depending on the size of the crowds.
Patrons attending the game should utilize the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines. The entrance closest to the stadium is located at 19th Street and Independence Avenue, S.E. The second entrance is two blocks away at 19th Street between C and Burke Streets, S.E. Riders should use both entrances after the game.
Free Shuttle Bus Service To Union Station
Metro will provide free one-way shuttle bus service from RFK Stadium to Union Station, after the eighth inning. These buses will be staged on the opposite side the Armory, facing 19th Street.
After the game, Metro will deploy additional trains if necessary, to clear the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station platform. Metro will have additional station managers, rail supervisors, and Transit Police at the Stadium-Armory station to assist customers with service questions, and directions how to get to and from the stadium.
Customer Reminders
Metro reminds everyone attending the ball game to make sure they have enough round-trip fare on their farecard or their SmarTrip card, and they must have a SmarTrip card when exiting a parking facility. Metro reminds customers that starting Monday, April 2, customers can pay for parking with a major credit card at the Anacostia, Franconia-Springfield, Largo Town Center, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Shady Grove and New Carrollton Metrorail stations as part of a three month pilot program.
###
News release issued at 12:00 am, March 30, 2007.